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Western Sydney Two Blues

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Western Sydney Two Blues
Full nameWestern Sydney "Two Blues" Rugby
Nickname(s)Two Blues
Founded1879
LocationParramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Ground(s)Eric Tweedale Stadium (Capacity: 5,000 (750 seats))
Coach(es)Paul Hardwick, Greg Michell
Captain(s)Adrian Musico
League(s)Shute Shield
General ManagerCraig Morgan
Team kit
Official website
www.twobluesrugby.com.au
Two Blues captain Andrew Cox, achieving 100 first grade games in 2011, is congratulated by President Geoff Baldwin and the then oldest living former Wallaby Eric Tweedale

Western Sydney Two Blues Rugby, formerly Parramatta Two Blues Rugby, is a rugby union club based in Parramatta, the second CBD of Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1879 and competes in the Shute Shield run by the New South Wales Rugby Union. One of the oldest clubs in the Sydney Premier Rugby competition the club has produced nineteen Wallabies over the years, starting with the great Bill Cerutti in 1936 through to the club's current, Tatafu Polota-Nau. To date Parramatta has played in eight First grade grand finals.

History

Western Sydney Two Blues Rugby Club has enjoyed 130 years of top-grade rugby in Sydney's premier competition and is one of only five clubs (Manly, Randwick, Parramatta, Gordon and Warringah) to have never been relegated from the Top Grade.

Founded in 1879 as Cumberland, the club played in a senior Competition with University, Wallaroos, Waratah, Redfern and Pirates until 1899 when the existing system was disbanded.

The Club changed its name to Parramatta and was admitted to the Sydney First Grade competition in 1934 contesting its first Grand Final in 1945, a 9-3 defeat to Sydney University. The 1950s and 1960s were lean years but the development of a strong junior competition assured a sharp improvement in standards.

Former Wallaby Rod Phelps took over as captain-coach in 1971 and for three years he improved Parramatta‘s standing in the rugby fraternity. Grand Final appearances in 1974 and 1975 showed that the club was well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Finally with the influx of young players in this period Parramatta won its initial First Grade premiership in 1977, a 17–9 victory against Randwick under coach Peter Fenton. The Two Blues had waited 44 years to sample the sweet taste of victory, but the wait was worthwhile.

The Club then played in the 1979 and 1984 grand finals going down to Randwick on both occasions, but revenge would be sweet in 1985 and 1986 when the underdogs from Sydney’s west succeeded in beating the Galloping Greens to win consecutive premierships under coach Paul Dalton.

In 2018 the club identified the need to evolve and deliver greater opportunity for the game of rugby in Greater Western Sydney. The clubs' members originate from all across the West with the club making the strategic decision to re-brand from Parramatta Rugby Club to the Western Sydney Two Blues to better reflect our presence in the competition, our members and playing group and to take lead for the game of rugby in Western Sydney.[1]

Four of Parramatta’s favourite sons switched to League with success. Ken Kearney (a Wallaby in 1947 and 1948), Ray Price (a Wallaby between 1974 and 1976), Tony Melrose who played for the Wallabies in 1978 and 1979, and Andrew Leeds who played for his country between 1986 and 1988 all wore the Two Blues with pride and then switched to the Parramatta Eels. Leeds and Peter Kay, capped against England in 1988, were the club’s most recent Wallabies until Tatafu Polota-Nau played two Tests on the Wallabies 2005 Tour against England and Ireland.

Club information

Parramatta Two Blues logo pre-2011
Club Name: Western Sydney Two Blues
Nickname: Two Blues
Founded: 1879
Home-stadium: Merrylands RSL Club Rugby Park (Formerly Granville Park)
Uniform colours: Navy-Blue and Sky-Blue
Premiership Titles: 3 titles: 1977, 1985, 1986

Office holders

As of 2021:[needs update]

President: Scott Rogan
General Manager: Christian Burden
Director of Coaching: Sailosi Tagicakibau
Club Captain: TBA
1st Grade Captain: Aleks Dabek

Current squad

Records

Honours

Grand Finalists and Premiers[citation needed]

  • 2000 4th Grade
  • 1998 5th Grade
  • 1997 5th Grade PREMIERS
  • 1992 4th Grade Colts
  • 1987 1st Grade Colts
  • 1986 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 30-12
  • 1985 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 19-12
  • 1984 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
  • 1984 3rd Grade
1984   1st Grade Colts Premiers Def Sydney Uni
  • 1982 3rd Grade
  • 1982 2nd Grade Colts
  • 1981 2nd Grade Colts
  • 1981 3rd Grade Colts PREMIERS
  • 1979 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
  • 1979 4th Grade PREMIERS
  • 1979 1st Grade Colts PREMIERS (Joint)
  • 1978 2nd Grade Colts
  • 1977 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 17-9
  • 1977 5th Grade
  • 1976 3rd Grade PREMIERS
  • 1976 5th Grade
  • 1976 1st Grade Colts
  • 1976 2nd Grade Colts PREMIERS
  • 1975 1st Grade (Northern Suburbs defeated Parramatta)
  • 1975 1st Grade Colts
  • 1975 2nd Grade Colts
  • 1974 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
  • 1945 1st Grade (Sydney University defeated Parramatta)

Representative players

International men's teams 15-a-side players:

Australia Australia Bob Brown Debut: 1975-05-24 vs. England in Sydney Aus / fullback / (Wallaby 575)
Australia Australia Bill Cerutti Australian Rep in 17 Tests & made famous the number 13 Jersey in the 1920s-30s.
Australia Australia Phil Clements Debut: 1982-09-11 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Lock / (Wallaby 631)
Australia Australia Adam Coleman Debut: 2016
Australia Australia Patrick Cooper Played for Wallabies is 1965
Australia Australia Peter Kay Debut: 1988-06-12 vs. England in Sydney, Aus / Prop / (Wallaby 669)
Australia Australia Ken Kearney Debut: 1947-06-14 vs. New Zealand in Brisbane, Aus / Hooker / (Wallaby 346)
Australia Australia Martin Knight Debut: 1978-06-11 vs. Wales in Brisbane, NZ / centre / (Wallaby 593)
Australia Australia Andrew Leeds Debut: 1986-09-06 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / fullback / (Wallaby 658)
Australia Australia Mick Martin Debut: 1980-05-24 vs. Fiji in Suva, Fiji / wing / (Wallaby 612)
Australia Australia Adrian McDonald Played for Wallabies in 1983
Australia Australia Tony Melrose Debut: 1978-09-09 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Flyhalf / (Wallaby 601)
Australia Australia Taqele Naiyaravoro Debut: 2015
Australia Australia Rod Phelps Debut: 1955-09-03 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / fullback / (Wallaby 412)
Australia Australia Tatafu Polota-Nau Debut: 2005-11-12 vs England in Twickenham, England / Hooker / (Wallaby 806)
Australia Australia Don Price Forward Toured Fiji with the Australian Rugby Union Team in 1980
Australia Australia Ray Price Debut: 1974-05-25 vs. New Zealand in Sydney, Aus / Flanker / (Wallaby 573)
Australia Australia Eric Tweedale Debut: 1946-09-14 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / Prop / (Wallaby 336)
Australia Australia Malcolm van Gelder 1958
Australia Australia Lance Walker Debut: 1982-08-28 vs. New Zealant in Wellington, NZ / Hooker / (Wallaby 629)
Australia Australia Stan Wickham Played for Wallabies in 1901 to 1906
Tonga Tonga Damien Fakafanua Centre/wing for Tonga in 2012 Pacific Nations Cup
Tonga Tonga John Fonua Debut: 2002-06-15 vs. Samoa at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / wing / (Tonga Player 472)
Tonga Tonga Sitiveni Mafi Lock, Flanker for Tonga Debut in the 2010 Pacific nations Cup
Tonga Tonga Sateki Tuipulotu Debut:1994-07-17 vs. Fiji at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / fullback / (Tonga Player 368)
Fiji Fiji Taniela Rawaqa Fullback/Flyhalf for Fiji. The Second Highest point scorer in Pacific Nations Cup at 103 Points
Samoa Samoa Fa'avaivai Tanoa'i Debut: 1996-07-13 Vs. Tonga at Apia, Samoa / Flyhalf
Samoa Samoa Lua Vailoaloa Halfback for the Manu Samoa in 2011 Pacific Nations Cup and non travelling reserve in 2011 Rugby World Cup
New Zealand New Zealand Sosene Anesi Debut: 2005 vs. Fiji in Albany / fullback,Wing / (All-Black 1054)
Canada Canada Evan Olmstead Debut: 2011 Canada U20 Vs. Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia / 2nd Row/Flanker/No.8
Philippines Philippines Oliver Saunders Current Philippines Rugby player and Top point scorer (Flyhalf)
Philippines Philippines Kenneth Stern Current Philippines Rugby Player (Winger)

Other players signed to professional clubs:

Australia Australia Daniel Yakapo Rugby Viadana
Italy Italy Steven Bortolussi Petrarca Padova Rugby
Samoa Samoa Iese Leota Stade Montois
Samoa Samoa Chris Seuteni CA Brive
Tonga Tonga Sitiveni Mafi Western Force

International women's teams players:

Australia Australia Alex Sulusi Australian women's national rugby union team
Australia Australia Chloe Butler Australian women's national rugby union team
Australia Australia Nita Maynard Australian women's national rugby union team
Australia Australia Hanna Sio Australian women's national rugby union team (sevens)

Other Australian team representatives:

Australia Australia Daniel Yakapo Australian national rugby union team (sevens)
Australia Australia Andrew Vatuvei Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union
Australia Australia Andrew Cox Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
Australia Australia Josh Kaifa Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
Australia Australia Mika Polota Nau Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
Australia Australia Rodney Ma'a Australian Barbarians Rugby Team

Life members

  • Greg Baker
  • Bruce Coggins
  • Denis Garlick
  • Frank Lawson
  • Jack Liversedge
  • Allan Minett
  • Roger O'Neill
  • Morris Sutton
  • Eric Tweedale
  • Hilton "Snow" Elliott
  • Janice Dewberry
  • John Aquilina
  • Patrick Dunne
  • Peter Thompson
  • Gary Hudson
  • Geoff Baldwin
  • Moala Polota-Nau
  • Andrew Cox
  • Tatafu Polota-Nau
  • Peter Gillett
  • Anthony 'Santa' Privett
  • Ian Clarke
  • Joe Scott


200 club

The following players have played over 200 Grade games for Parramatta Two Blues

  • David Bird
  • Matthew Campton
  • Pat Cooper
  • Ray Elliot
  • Graham Galloway
  • Glen Goddard
  • Greg Hackett
  • Dominic King
  • Ivan Mann
  • Gregg Melrose
  • David Strong
  • Kel Black
  • Peter Campton
  • Mick Donaldson
  • Paul Evans
  • John Gardiner
  • Andrew Gokel
  • Terry Heffernan
  • Peter Koen
  • Warren Martin
  • Allan Minnett
  • Craig Minnett
  • Glen Stuart
  • Tim Calhalane
  • Bruce Coggins
  • Hilton "Snow" Elliott
  • Geoff Ferris
  • Dennis Garlick
  • Jon Gorman
  • Allan Holman
  • Frank Lehman
  • Peter McDonald
  • Andrew Campton
  • Joe Cllins
  • Kevin Elliott
  • Peter Ferris
  • Paul Gledhill
  • Noel Grant
  • Peter Kay
  • David Mann
  • Keith McKinney
  • Steven Simpson

Juniors

Parramatta junior clubs

  • Blacktown JRUFC
  • Dundas Valley JRUFC
  • Hills JRUFC
  • Merrylands JRUFC
  • Norwest JRUFC
  • Liverpool JRUFC
  • Hawkesbury Valley JRUFC

Notable junior players

References

  1. ^ "Our History".
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